Los Algodones and Laughlin

Time to catch you up on our adventures of late.  I told you about going to Algodones one day last week, well we didn’t go on the day I said because we wanted to eat lunch at a favorite cantina there and it was windy that day.  We did go the next day though, and we had a great time there.

 

 

 

  Paraiso Cantina in Algodones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                       A very colorful place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Cadillac Margarita’s for all.

 

 

 

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                                                                                                                                  They even serenaded us on the way through customs.

 

 

 

Gorgie had the shrimp tacos and I had shrimp ranchero style, both were excellent. Oh and the Cadillac margarita?  We went back for a second after shopping .

There is lots of shopping and cheap souvenirs there, so we did our best to support the local economy. We like going there a lot.

 

I was going through a local paper and spotted an add for a bus trip to Laughlin, NV.  The price was just $40.00 each and included transportation, a room for one night, and a free buffet.  Sounded like a good time to us, so we called and made reservations to depart on Sunday morning.  Well when it was time to go it was raining buckets, the rain was coming down so hard I had a hard time seeing the road.  We limped along at about 35 MPH on the 75MPH freeway and were the last to arrive.  Well everyone on the bus gave us a cheer and we knew this was going to be an adventure to remember.  After we settled into the last two seats (last row next to the not recently cleaned outhouse), and looked around we saw this bus had seen many, many of these trips.  Oh well just relax and go along for the ride, and 4.5 hours later and very sore butts later we arrived at the Colorado Belle in Laughlin, NV.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                          http://buffalobustours.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t follow too close.

 

 

 

We weren’t winners but we made new friends and had a great time.  Oh and we won’t be taking any bus tours for a while.

More Later, Rich

What a Difference a Day Makes

The drive from Salome to Yuma is only 120 miles or so, but the elevation change is about 1800 ft.  From 2000 to 200 feet above sea level.  It makes all the difference in the world as far as temperature goes.  We were seeing temps in the 60’s in Salome and here it’s getting up to the high 70’s and yesterday it was 80, my oh my, we love it here.

We stopped in Yuma on the way down, ( we are actually in Winterhaven,CA just across the Colorado River), but everyone considers this whole area to be “Yuma”), to have some solar screens made for the coach.

Who is that masked man?

It really helps to keep it cooler inside without having to close the curtains, plus we can see out and passers-by can’t see in.  Now we feel like the big boys.

The latest additions to our yard art have been named.  Jeremiah is our reptilian companion, and the ants wanted to be called Snap, Crackle, and Pop.

  

Do frogs eat ants?

Not these ants!

We’ll do our best to keep them apart.

We booked a one night bus trip to Laughlin, NV just to see the sights and let someone else drive.  The cost was right just $40.00 each.  That’s for the bus ride, hotel, and a buffet.  Should be fun.

Tomorrow we plan to go to Los Algadones for lunch and stuff.  We are probably at our limit as far as what we can carry home but we’ll see.

Well I’m going back outside and enjoy the rest of this wonderful day.

More Later, Rich

More Weather

We are expecting another storm today.  Rain and high winds are coming our way, the winds have started and the rain is sure to follow.  I’ll probably have to go out and retract the awnings so they don’t get damaged.

We had a real nice visit with Pam and Steve, though it was not long enough.  We had a BBQ chicken dinner up at the clubhouse Thursday, and a soup and cornbread lunch there on Friday.  We had a snake toss tournament and I won’t say who won because it was all for fun, he-he.  Anyway they had to continue on their journey after lunch.  We hope to see them at their home in Reno on our way back to the northwest in April.

 

While they were here Gorgie took Pam (Steve and I followed) to the yard art place next door, and low and behold, the tin man and Arnie were joined by a frog and some ants.

Remember you can click on a picture to see a larger view.

Juan and Josie pulled in on Thursday and they taught us a new game called “Fast Track” another card/board game from Kornell (who made the pegs and joker boards). It is a lot of fun, we called and are picking up a set on Sunday in Ehrenberg, we’ll have lunch with them and Harold while there.

More Later,Rich

We Have Company Coming

With all the folks we meet traveling, and have met in previous trips, seeing someone from home is going to be a special treat.  Pam and Steve are passing through and are going to stop and spend the night with us.   We are going to take them to a community dinner here in the park so they can see why we like the people here, and in all the other places we travel to.

  Gorgies leg is healing up nicely, Although she has a tendency to push it sometimes.  Yes Katie she was going wild, trying to line dance with several other ladies who were mostly in their 60’s and 70’s.  One of the other husbands who is probably 75 said that “if you girls would act your age things like this wouldn’t happen”.  Well it was a Valentines dinner/dance after all.

On a recent trip to Quartzsite Gorgie found a tin man that she has always wanted.

 

 

                       

 

 

But he didn’t have a heart--- until now.  

                                                                                                          He was soon joined by Arnie the armadillo.

Next week we move to the Yuma area, (Winterhaven, CA) for two weeks.  We are fond of Yuma and all there is to see and do.  This year has been one of the wettest and coldest in Arizona in a long time, so Yuma promises to be warmer, shorts and t-shirts weather  .  Of course we will have to make the obligatory trip to Los Algedones for lunch, margarita's and some tequila to bring home.

More Later, Rich

Laid Back in the Arizona Outback

We are spending some downtime here in Salome, letting Gorgie’s leg heal.  She is feeling better every day and is walking more.  She still has some pain but even that is going away. 

They call this area (The McMullen Valley), The Arizona Outback. Arizona Outback  There is some agriculture but mostly desert.  The towns are all very small.  We mailed a letter yesterday at the Post Office, the parking lot was full, and all the neighbors were standing around visiting with each other, you don’t see that very often.

Gorgie was getting motorhome fever, so we took a drive to see the sights.  There is an Arizona State Park at Alamo Lake, it was a 40 mile (one way) drive, but it was worth it.  The sad thing is that they are going to close it along with most of the other state parks on June 10th due to budget problems.  Seems that the state of Arizona is almost bankrupt, very sad as it was a lovely and popular place, with a nice campground and reportedly excellent fishing.

                  

 

 

 

 

 

On the way home we took a short detour (4 miles) on a dirt road to a place called Wayside they have a cafe, sell gas, propane to campers and 4 wheelers.  We had a couple of pretty good hamburgers.  We tried to take a different road back to the highway but only made it about a mile where we encountered a lot of loose sand and not wanting to get stuck we backtracked and returned on the same road we came in on.  The desert is greening up now and maybe we will see some wildflowers and cactus blooms before we have to leave.  It was a very nice drive and it got Gorgie out.

Today we were going to go to the Great Outback Chili Cook-off but it has been pouring all morning so even if it’s going on we are going to pass the mud and possible flooded roads, maybe next time.

Pam and Steve are passing through this area next week and are going to stop and spend a night with us.  We are looking forward to seeing some faces from home.  We have had a great time reconnecting with some folks we met last year and and this year but it will be nice to see “Old Friends”.

More Later,Rich

The Party’s Over

We have left our friends both old and new behind and are now in Salome, AZ.  We had a blast in Ehrenberg and enjoyed spending time with our friends.  Everyday was filled with laughter and conversation.  These are a great bunch of folks.

On Saturday there was a dinner and dance, boy did we have a good time right up until Gorgie hurt her leg.  She is still hurting, but not as bad.  I think that a few days of rest and she will be fine.  We contemplated staying in Ehrenberg in case she needed to go to a hospital but decided to go ahead and move to Salome because the distance is the same from Salome to Parker (where there is a hospital), as it is from Ehrenberg.

Here are a couple of pictures from the party.

 

 

 

   Our tables full of friends

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                   There was quite a crowd

 

 

 

After dinner they had a DJ and dancing, we all made fools of ourselves.

 

 

 

  Gorgie and Harold

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            Harold and Pam

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Donna and Bill

 

 

 

Even though Gorgie was in pain we went ahead and put on a Sunday brunch at our site for everyone.  Gorgie wasn’t able to do much other than supervise.  A good time was had by all.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                       What a great day for brunch

 

 

 

 

 

 

  The chief cook and bottle washer

 

 

 

The menu was simple SOS or hamburger gravy, on toast with boiled eggs and fruit salad.

We miss everyone already, and are already making plans to meet next year in the Rio Grand Valley in Texas.

Salome should be a great place for Gorgie to rest and recover.  It sure was quiet last night.

More Later, Rich

Colorado River Oasis Ehrenberg, AZ

We are having a great time here in Ehrenberg.  The folks here are as friendly as those we met last year.  Of course it helps that we have been joined by our good friends, full timers Harold and Pam, plus those wacky Coloradans Donna and Bill.  These folks are a hoot to be with.  In addition to playing games, going out to eat, and visiting, Bill, Harold, and I have been going for some long hikes in the desert.  I really like the desert southwest and the stark scenery.  It seems as though that you can see forever.

There has been some rain in the past couple of weeks so things are starting to green up.  These Octillo cactus looked like dead sticks, after the rain they transform themselves and start to bloom. Mother nature doesn’t give them much time to do their thing.

We are both getting some much needed exercise with me hiking with the guys and Gorgie going to the daily walk off the pounds classes. Boy do we sleep good.

The other day we had a rainstorm and afterwards there was the most beautiful rainbow that we have ever seen.

It was one of those rare double arches that were so large that getting the whole thing in one picture was not possible.

Today is another stormy day so maybe we will be treated to another show this evening.

More Later, Rich

Let the Games Begin

My lazy day while Gorgie played Pokino never happened. Harold invited me to go 4 wheelin’ in the desert.  I’m so glad I accepted.  It was great.  The recent rains have started  greening the plants up.

Some steep hills here

You don’t have to get very far off the road to be in the middle of nowhere.

You can see forever

On Wednesday we (Pam, Harold, Gorgie, and I), drove to Quartzsite and met with Donna and Bill to help Bill celebrate his 70th Birthday. Not seeing them for a year we forgot how much fun they are to be with.  The food is not that remarkable but it is a festive atmosphere, so a good time was had by all.

 

Bill

Donna 

Harold and Pam

Yesterday Harold and I went for a hike in the desert. I really like it out there.

The Greening

Bill and Donna pulled into the Resort and after they set up we played Pegs and Jokers in the afternoon.  Last night we were joined by about 20 other campers in the clubhouse to play Chase the Aces a fun game for money (none of us won).  So we didn’t get to bed until midnight, and then this morning Bill, Harold, and I are going hiking in the desert again. Followed by more games.

We are having tooo much fun.

More Later, Rich

We Are Back in Ehrenberg, AZ

Monday we had a pleasant 187 mile drive from Ajo to the Colorado River Oasis here in Ehrenberg, AZ.  We drove it nonstop except for a brief pause to fuel up just east of Quartzsite. Our early departure from Ajo was in the hopes that we would be able to score a river front site, but they were all taken, we can still see it from where we are though.

We had neglected to take out anything for dinner so we drove to Blyth and had an early dinner/late lunch at Rosita’s, good food in a nice setting.  Pam and Harold are here and we have had several nice talks getting caught up on each others lives.  Last night we played Pegs and Jokers up in the activity center with them and the guys won .

Today is Bill’s 70th birthday.  They are boondocking over in Quartzsite for a few days until they can check in here on Thursday, so we are all going to drive over and meet at the Grubsteak and have a celebratory dinner.

The Grubsteak in Quartzsite

This afternoon Pam is going to teach Gorgie how to play Pokino, Harold has to work and I plan to do some reading in the sunshine.  What a way to have toooo much fun.

More Later, Rich

Sunny Ajo, AZ

We have spent the last two nights being serenaded by coyotes in the desert around us.  The daytime temperatures were in the low 70’s and upper 40’s at night.  The people here are very friendly and this is a nice clean park. Ajo Heights RV Park  This morning we will roll out at about 8:00AM hoping to get a riverside spot in Ehrenberg.  It’s about 200 miles so not a bad drive.

More Later, Rich

We Are Off to Ajo, AZ Today

Today will be the longest drive in a month, we may even need to buy fuel.  I'm posting this because last year in Ajo we did not have any aircard  service so I may not be able to post from there.
We have loved our time in the St. David/Benson area it is one of our favorites.  This year has been very unusual in that there has more rain in January than in the last 10 years, there has been snow all around, but not on us.  It sure makes for some great scenery.  As usual the people both in the parks and in the towns were pleasant to be with.
Our stay in Ajo will only be for two nights then we travel to Colorado River Oasis in Ehrenberg, AZ for a two week visit. We are meeting up with Pam, and Harold (who are working out of there), and being joined by Donna and Bill (who will be celebrating his 70th birthday).  We are looking forward to seeing them.

One last look out our window

More Later, Rich

We Love Benson, AZ

It’s not just the people here but this is a beautiful place. We can sit in our rig and look out to the Dragoon Mountains in the distance, we can watch the trains snake across the valley floor.  We rode out the two day storm doing just that.

The view out our front windshield is to die for.

The Dragoons are covered with snow from the recent storms.

When we got to Valley Vista we set out the hummingbird feeder in the hopes of attracting them to our window.  Well they never showed up, but a Verdin did.  He will stick his bill into the feeder draw it out and shake his head casting drops all over the glass.  He will then reach over and lick those drops off the window.  He is cute and the sugar water will wash off.

Mr. Verdin

Yesterday we finally went to Tombstone with Terry and Mary and had an enjoyable lunch.  We did some window shopping and had a lot of laughs and conversation.  Here we are we live in Vancouver and they live in Bend and we have to meet in Tucson/Benson go figure.

This morning we had a beautiful sunrise here in the desert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And it lit up the hills behind us.

Gorgie is off having her hair done and I am just puttering around today, but with all the scenery I’m having a hard time paying attention.

More Later, Rich

It Blew and It Blew

Yesterday and last night the wind blew so hard we wondered if we would topple over.  It was like being on a boat.  It poured all night long, is still raining.  The weather alerts were coming on the TV the whole evening.  There were even tornado warnings.  Today and tonight there is even a chance for some snow.  The snow level is at 4000 feet and we are at 3800 feet.

This was the view out our front windshield yesterday

This is what it looks like this morning

Our tip to Tombstone yesterday was postponed due to the wind and rain.  We will likely stay hunkered down in our rig today and ride out the rest of this weather.

More Later, Rich